Interior Ministry Investigates Repression in Madrid

Madrid, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Spanish Interior Ministry opened an investigation into the violent repression by the national police of two lay demonstrations against public funding for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.

Due to the webcasting of several videos, which show how some policemen beat participants in the peaceful protest, who did not show an aggressive attitude to the riot police, the Interior Ministry started an internal investigation to establish responsibilities.

The Madrid-based newspaper Publico confirmed on Saturday that the Interior Ministry ordered the opening of an investigation specifically into a video that shows several policemen beating a photographer.

The people who released the videos said that, besides several attacks on citizens, some riot police insulted several journalists covering the disturbances.

The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party called for an investigation into the alleged police excesses committed in the two marches against the use of public funds to finance the World Youth Day and the Pope’s attendance at that event.

The demonstrations carried out on Wednesday and Thursday left about twenty injured and arrested.